Commentary: Reduce long-term joblessness by reducing the minimum wage

2:38 PM,
Feb. 15, 2014

What can the federal government do to help the long-term unemployed? Make it easier for companies to hire them.

Written by

MICHAEL R. STRAIN

The fate of the long-term unemployed is arguably the most immediate social and economic challenge facing the U.S. today. How have our leaders in Washington responded to it?

The left wants to extend the maximum duration of unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed. This is helpful, but not nearly sufficient. And President Barack Obama recently held a meeting with chief executives urging them not to discriminate against this group - maybe a little helpful, maybe not. If anything, the right has been worse - with a few notable exceptions - offering its usual menu of tax cuts, less ...